the black countess | Classic Film Aficionados

The Black Countess, (the original French title was La comtesse noire), was produced by Pathé Frères, in 1913, and was three reels in length. The film had its French premier at the Omnia Pathé Theater, in Paris, June 20-26, 1913.

The Black Countess offers us a unique peek at film history. As to release date; Paris, we have a problem! June 20, 1913 is the French premier of a French production, yet, on Monday, May 19, 1913, The Black Countess played in Newcastle and Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.[1] What? Now we know the print was not flown there, so it had to be shipped from France to Australia. We may assume that the film had to be ready as early as February or March for it to be in Australia by May. We know for sure this is not mistaken identity for Gabrielle Robinne (as the Black Countess) is mentioned as the star of the film in the advertising.[2] In June of 1913, Black Countess was playing second bill at the Picture Palace in south Dublin, Ireland.[3]

Next of all, in contradiction to the Internet Movie Data Base and other online celluloid resources, The Black Countess was not a black and white film (which is obvious by the frames seen below). In fact, of its 2,854 feet (a running time of nearly 32 minutes), 2395 (close to 27 minutes)[4] were in color;[5] quite the rage in 1913. The Black Countess was also involved in a legal battle between Pathé Frères and Lowe’s Theatrical Enterprise. Lowe’s brought in a one reel version from France, and renamed it The Captivating Countess, and began exhibition in the United States.[6] Pathé Frères claimed that the only company with those rights to release The Black Countess was the local office of Pathé Frères, located in New Jersey. Pathé Frères sought no damages just an injunction against exhibition of The Captivating Countess and the seizure of all copies.[7] Pathé had sufficient reason to be so very concerned… for when The Motion Picture News printed its review of the film, they questioned ownership.[8] But according the Library of Congress the copyright holder was Pathé and it had been granted on May 22, 1913.

The plot of our remarkable subject went as such…

Professor Mable, a scientist and his daughter Germain, attend grand ball, while they meet up with Dr. Raymond, Professor Mable’s assistant, who just happens to be engaged to Germain. During the events of the evening, Dr. Raymond is spotted by Countess Reinler; she is impressed by his good looks and determines to pursue the young doctor. When Raymond and the Countess are discovered the engagement between Germain and Dr. Raymond is called off.

Yet, our story has just begun! The daughter of the Countess is found seriously ill and the Countess asks Professor Mable for his help. An operation is successfully performed by Mable and Raymond. Meanwhile, Raymond discovers that Countess Reinler is a notorious adventuress known as the Black Countess. Softened by the selfless work of the doctors, Reinler’s heart is touched by the circumstance of Germain and Dr. Raymond; she confesses her evil deeds… and the young lovers are reunited.[9]

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